News and press releases

Vienna, 20 October 2017 – In times of interconnected challenges to security, such as emergency situations, violent extremism or large movements of people fleeing conflict, the fight to end human trafficking requires a flexible, creative and system-wide approach involving governments, the private sector, civil society and international organizations, stressed participants at today’s conference on Human Trafficking in Conflict and Crisis Situations.

The SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations in Donetsk region compared with the previous reporting period. In Luhansk region the Mission recorded an increase in ceasefire violations compared with the previous reporting period, mostly north-west of Kadiivka. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska and Zolote disengagement areas. Its access remained restricted in all three areas. The Mission observed anti-tank mines inside the Zolote disengagement area where it had recently facilitated and monitored demining activities as part of preparatory work to clear the road and possibly open a new entry-exit checkpoint. The SMM facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to the Donetsk Filtration Station and power lines in Druzhba. The Mission continued to monitor an ongoing gathering in Kyiv...

A specialized training course on trial advocacy in war crimes cases, organized by the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in co-operation with the BiH Ministry of Justice Criminal Defence Section and the entity Judicial and Prosecutorial Training Centres, concluded on 20 October 2017 in Sarajevo...

Strengthening protection and preparedness against terrorist attacks aimed at critical energy infrastructure was the focus of a risk-assessment and crisis management exercise in Belgrade on 19 and 20 October 2017, organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department with the support of the OSCE Mission to Serbia...

TASHKENT, 19 October 2017 – The authorities in Central Asia must release all journalists interned in the region, said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir in his opening remarks at the 19th Central Asia Media Conference, “Open Journalism in Central Asia”, which concluded in Tashkent today...

The SMM recorded more ceasefire violations in Donetsk region and a similar number in Luhansk region compared with the previous reporting period. The SMM followed up on reports of civilian casualties from the Trudivski area of Donetsk city’s Petrovskyi district, Amvrosiivka and Zalizne. The SMM continued monitoring all three disengagement areas and recorded ceasefire violations near the Stanytsia Luhanska disengagement area. Its access remained restricted in all three areas.* The Mission observed a probable mortar and a probable surface-to-air missile system in violation of withdrawal lines in an area under government control near Hranitne. It facilitated and monitored repairs and maintenance to power lines in Druzhba and the Donetsk Filtration Station. The Mission visited a border area not under government control. The SMM monitored gatherings in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odessa...

A two-day training workshop on good practices in the integration of migrants at the local level in line with OSCE commitments and other international standards took place in Dublin on 18 and 19 October 2017. The event, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights